Northanger Abbey
Published: December 1817
Author: Jane Austen
Genres: Classic, Drama, Fiction, Historical, Literature, Regency, Romance, Victorian
Check out the review of this book here:
Summary
Catherine Morland, seventeen, is one of ten children of a rural pastor. Although she was a tomboy as a youngster, by the age of 17 she is "in preparation for a heroine" and enjoys reading Gothic books, particularly Ann Radcliffe's Mysteries of Udolpho.
Catherine is asked to join the Allens (her richer Fullerton neighbors) in visiting Bath and partaking in the city's winter season of balls, theatre, and other social joys. Soon after, she meets Henry Tilney, a charming young guy with whom she dances and converses. Mrs. Allen meets Mrs. Thorpe's daughter Isabella, a bright and provocative young lady, through Mrs. Allen's old school friend Mrs. Thorpe, and the two immediately become friends. Catherine's elder brother, James, is a friend of Mrs. Thorpe's son, John, at Oxford, where they are both students.
Catherine's connection with the Tilneys irritates the Thorpes, who correctly see Henry as a competition for Catherine's affections, despite Catherine's lack of interest in the crass John Thorpe. Catherine seeks to retain her ties with both the Thorpes and the Tilneys, despite John Thorpe's constant attempts to ruin her Tilney relationship. This causes multiple misunderstandings, forcing Catherine to explain herself to the Tilneys in an unpleasant situation.
Isabella and James decide to get married. James' father approves of the match and gives his son a rural parson's living of £400 per year, but they must wait two and a half years for him to get the benefice. Isabella is displeased, but she misrepresents her dissatisfaction to Catherine as being exclusively due to the delay, rather than the worth of the cash.
Isabella starts flirting with Henry's older brother, Captain Tilney, right away. Catherine, who is innocent, is baffled by her friend's behavior, but Henry, who knows his brother's nature and habits, is all too aware of it.
Catherine is invited to stay with the Tilneys at Northanger Abbey for a few weeks. Catherine anticipates the monastery to be exotic and terrifying, based on her novel reading. Henry taunts her about it, as Northanger Abbey turns out to be delightful rather than Gothic. The mansion, however, has a mystery suite of rooms that no one ever visits; Catherine discovers that they were Mrs. Tilney's quarters, which she discovered nine years ago. Catherine concludes that General Tilney may have murdered her or imprisoned her in her chamber since he looks unaffected by her death.
Catherine realizes that her overactive imagination has led her misled since nothing about the apartments is weird or upsetting. Unfortunately, Henry interrogates her; he deduces and informs her that his father loved his wife in his own special manner and that her death really affected him. She walks away, weeping, fearful that she has completely lost Henry's respect. Catherine realizes how dumb she has been and concludes that, while novels are enjoyable, their content is unrelated to practical life. Henry never brings up the issue with her again.
James writes to tell her that he is not engaged with Isabella and that she is engaged to Captain Tilney instead. Henry and Eleanor Tilney have significant doubts about their brother's engagement to Isabella Thorpe. Catherine is deeply disappointed after discovering Isabella's dishonesty. A letter from Isabella herself later confirms the Tilney siblings' suspicions, demonstrating that Frederick Tilney was only flirting with Isabella.
The General departs for London, and the mood at Northanger Abbey lightens and becomes more cheerful as a result of his departure. Catherine spends many pleasant days with Henry and Eleanor until the General arrives in a rage when Henry is out. He has Catherine leave early the next morning to return home, a surprising, unfriendly, and dangerous decision that compels Catherine to make the 70-mile (110-kilometer) trek alone.
Catherine is bored and miserable at home. Henry unexpectedly makes a visit and explains what has transpired. General Tilney had mistakenly considered her to be extremely wealthy as the Allens' potential heiress, and hence a good match for Henry, based on John Thorpe's disinformation. In London, General Tilney came upon Thorpe again; who, enraged and spiteful by Catherine's rejection of his half-made marriage proposal, claimed that she was on the verge of starvation.
Enraged, General Tilney came home to evict Catherine (again, based on John Thorpe's disinformation). When Henry returned to Northanger, his father told him what had happened and prohibited him from thinking about Catherine ever again. When Henry discovers how she was handled, he defies his father and tells Catherine that despite his father's displeasure, he still wants to marry her. Catherine is overjoyed, but when Henry asks her parents for their blessing, they inform the young couple that ultimate permission would only come if General Tilney agrees.
General Tilney eventually agrees since Eleanor has married a wealthy and titled man, and he realizes that the Morlands, while not affluent, are far from poor.
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Rating: 85/100
Recommended: 90/100 Yes.
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The Complete Works of Jane Austen:
Northanger Abbey (2007) (PG):
Northanger Abbey (1987) (13+):
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